The next morning.
After finishing my meal, I was about to head to the training grounds near the Lord's manor.
"Son, you're training today, right?"
"No, it seems most of the Hero Candidates are returning today, so we'll probably just gather for now."
We might train after gathering, but I hadn't been told exactly what we'd be doing.
More than that, I was excited. Among the Hero Candidates, there's a female character so big she's nicknamed 'Mama'.
What would it feel like to see her with my own two eyes, in person? Hehe.
"Make lots of friends. There's no bond as special as comrades-in-arms! Oh, this is a gift!"
"Oh, this?!"
What Aunt gave me was a ring. I checked its specs.
[Canape]
Rarity: Limited Edition
*Unique Persistent Effect 'Subspace Storage': Allows the use of a subspace storage unit that can store weight equal to your highest Stats +10kg.
「A family heirloom ring of the Canape family. Its true essence is not the gem, but the ring itself.」
Come to think of it, Aunt's original family name was Canape, wasn't it? She's practically given me a family heirloom, then?
What's more, this has a subspace storage function?!
"Aunt was an adventurer in the past too. It was something I used very handily, but now my son can use it!"
"Thank you, Aunt. I love you!"
I kissed Aunt's cheek and left the house. When I put on the ring, I felt a strange sense of weight.
'With this, I can store hidden treasures. If only I can find them.'
I went to the Lord's manor. I glanced at the guards and passed by.
Now, the guards no longer ignored me. They recognized me as a proper Hero Candidate.
'Better than those guys guarding the territory's gate.'
When I arrived at the training grounds, men and women of similar age were gathered. All of them had large physiques or were well-equipped.
Everyone seemed well-prepared, but to me, they were just so-so.
'I have my family's sword style and titles. Title Masterrrrrrr!'
Therefore, I was confident.
Thwack!
Someone hit me hard on the back of the head.
"Oh, Lucian. This gigolo bastard is still the same, huh? Haha!"
I turned around. It was a guy who used to be a close neighborhood big bro, but after a year at the academy, his physique had grown and his personality had changed.
Even with this setup, he was a common villain.
Ha, the thought of actually being tormented by this guy pisses me off. As I endured and picked out a practice sword, he started provoking me again.
"No, you queer! What kind of Hero are you, a pretty boy like you? You should go out into the streets!"
"Your way of speaking has gotten really weird since I last saw you. Is that some kind of dialect?"
"Don't you know, country bumpkin queer? It's a way of speaking often used in the 'Expedition Society' gathering in the capital region. Isn't it because you don't know things like this that you don't make any progress? Did you get talent from your bloodline only to end up like this?"
"Oh, really? But why don't you take care of your own life? Do you think those people will acknowledge you just because you show off your belonging with that kind of speech?"
"This bastard, to his big bro! I'm a Force Heart Runner Mid-stage, what are you? You wannabe queer, have you even passed the initial stage?"
What he said was true. When I looked closely at him, I saw two pure white rings on his solar plexus.
I ignored him and picked out a practice sword.
Force Heart.
Just as mages have Circle Hearts, swordsmen have something called Force Heart, which utilizes ki to aid in sword technique efficiency and physical enhancement.
When this ki wraps around the heart in a circle, it's called a Force Heart.
It indicates a swordsman's level, and a Runner Mid-stage was equivalent to a 2nd Circle in magic.
'Well, it seems he didn't just fool around at the academy. But doesn't he feel self-loathing using that kind of speech?'
In a way, he was pitiful. He must have thought he had to show off his belonging like that to survive.
But there was one thing I couldn't let slide.
"What's this talk about 'streets'?"
"Alright, this big bro Alpa will tell you. You'd suit going out into the streets and protesting. 'Guarantee our basic rights! We're people too!' he says, keke."
"This guy, protesting!"
As Alpa got started, everyone around laughed. They were all mocking me.
'To equate me with that fucked-up group. How absurd.'
I was angry, but I held back. After all, a chance would come.
Soon, the Guard Captain arrived and shouted.
"Everyone, line up in rows and columns! Why aren't you moving faster?!"
Thump-thump, thump-thump!
"Look at the discipline of you bastards who want to become Heroes. Can you even catch a slime like this?!"
The Guard Captain started imposing discipline from the get-go. As we stood properly, the Guard Captain pointed upwards.
A figure was visible on the 3rd-floor balcony of the Lord's manor. The sunlight was strong, making it hard to see clearly.
"Today, I shall personally oversee your training. Train diligently today, and accordingly, the Acting Lord will assign you missions!"
This is a bit unexpected. She must have been quite surprised by the news of the Lord's death.
The Lady of the Manor herself would watch our training and create a lineup.
Murmurs rose from around us.
"I need to make a good impression this time. It's an opportunity!"
"Who knows? Maybe she'll introduce us to a famous guild or mercenary group?"
"Or to a kind noble."
"To make a good impression, a spar is definitely the way."
"Oh, the Lady saw me!"
Someone pointed upwards. When a cloud obscured the sun, I could see clearly.
From the balcony, Fiora Ravenscoft, the Lady of the Manor, was looking down at us.
I could see the Hero Candidates getting nervous. All the better.
'Perfect timing, this is it.'
I'd make a proper impression on Fiora. Actually, it varies by city, but the minimum period to graduate from Hero Candidate status is said to be one month.
But I don't have that much time. I want to quickly become a full-fledged Hero and screw more MILFs, you see.
As I was quietly waiting, Alpa suddenly raised his hand.
"Guard Captain, I have a suggestion!"
He doesn't use that way of speaking at times like this.
"What is it?"
"I see someone among us who is not qualified. A Hero is someone who protects humanity from the Demon King and his demons. But I doubt if someone who can't even take care of his own life can become a Hero."
"Who are you talking about?"
"It's Lucian Vane. I believe it's not right to occupy a position based solely on bloodline! Shouldn't we, at least, be equal?!"
It's laughable for a guy like him to talk about equality. He's a typical politician type.
The type who usually breaks all rules, but then shouts 'equality and people first' in front of the public.
Everyone seemed to agree, starting to glare at me. That's probably because I hadn't shown or proven anything yet.
I admit it. Then I'll have to show them.
Alpa continued.
"I propose that Lucian be expelled from here! Pfft."
"Stop joking around."
"It's not a joke, I'm serious!"
Can't be helped. He's setting the stage like this. He's calling me out. Let's accept it.
I raised my hand.
'I'm really grateful to this guy who'll be a supporting character his whole life. I'll take you up on that.'
I opened my mouth.
"Then Guard Captain, may I make a suggestion?"
"What is it?"
"I will spar with that Alpa..ca. A practice sword or anything is fine. I won't back down. I will show and prove to everyone that I am qualified to be here and qualified to become a Hero."
Show and Prove, that's my life motto.
All I have to do is prove it.
Ooooooh!
Everyone hyped up the atmosphere. It seemed to have gotten even more heated.
Alpa sneered.
"Sparring with such a girly guy. How laughable."
I knew he'd say that. As if I'd been waiting, I spoke.
"It seems Alpa is scared. He's backing out. But I won't back down no matter what that guy does."
This time, everyone laughed along with my words. Alpa, having been mocked, trembled with rage.
"Ha, I agree! I'll show you that Lucian isn't qualified!"
The Guard Captain clicked his tongue, then reluctantly agreed.
"Private spars aren't good for establishing hierarchy, but fine. Alpa, Lucian. Get onto the sparring ground! The rest of you, sit in a circle around it!"
Each of us took a practice sword and stepped onto the platform. Alpa gnashed his teeth.
"Did you learn how to bluff from your mom? This public humiliation is amazing, huh."
"Guys who use that kind of speech always have long tongues."
"Yeah, with this long tongue, I'm gonna lick your mom's pussy! Hehe."
"Aren't you going to screw your own mom first? She'd be sad. You should be filial."
When I provoked him back, I saw Alpa rubbing the back of his neck.
The Guard Captain stepped between us and explained the rules.
"Fight with all your pride, without inflicting fatal injuries on each other. Begin!"
As he stepped back, we pointed our swords at each other. Alpa shouted, as if for everyone to hear.
"Today, I'll send you to where you belong. The Regional Disabled Alliance!"
"Yeah, your mom."
I lightly countered with a mother joke and went on the offensive. I went straight forward, but Alpa seemed to be defending, so I moved to the side.
Whoosh, tak tak..
Alpa lightly stepped in response to my movements. Was his center of gravity in his waist?
It was a flexible response.
'He didn't just fool around at the academy after all. His response is smooth.'
Alpa quickly stepped and thrust his sword. As I dodged to the side, he launched a combination.
Vertical slash, vertical slash, powerful horizontal slash!
I blocked and was pushed back. First of all, my physique is not big. This meant I was at a disadvantage in terms of weight class.
"As expected, Lucian can't do it."
"Alpa even studied abroad at the academy for a year."
"You really need to get that academy experience."
Skeptical remarks spread around. I ignored them and focused.
'Shall I start getting serious?'
Shifting my weight back.
Taking a back stance, I slightly lifted my front foot.
I glared at Alpa, holding my sword diagonally in the opposite direction of my forward-extended foot.
'I'll show them the Vane Severing Sword Style, which can cut anything, anytime.'
Alpa began to sneer.
"Being a Hero isn't a joke, you bastard! I'll teach you a real lesson!"
He roared like a beast and charged. His momentum was similar to a wild boar in the mountains.
I dodged, sliding to the side.
Alpa immediately followed and unleashed a horizontal slash. I lightly deflected it and moved to the side.
Alpa suddenly grabbed me by the collar. My movements were blocked.
"Checkmate! Queer!"
But actually, I had been waiting for this. Though it was a bit of an unexpected timing.
Thwack!
I unleashed a front kick without hesitation towards his lower abdomen. He panicked, retreated, and his stance broke.
I closed the distance in an instant. I imbued my sword with ki and thrust it with all my might.
[Vane Severing Sword Style - Nameless Thrust]
One of the few thrusting techniques in the Severing Sword Style, which mostly consists of cutting techniques.
Before Alpa could regain his stance, I stabbed him squarely in the chest.
Puhook!
"Kkuaaaak!"
Alpa fell backward and landed out of bounds.
The atmosphere suddenly became like a library. I approached Alpa.
"First, fix your way of speaking. Your mom who gave birth to you would be wailing."
Then I turned around and spoke, as if for everyone to hear.
"Runner Mid-stage isn't much, after all."
W-Whoaaaaaah!
Everyone gasped in astonishment and cheered. The Guard Captain looked at me with surprise, then shouted.
"This spar goes to Lucian! Excellent."
Applause and cheers erupted from all directions. My heart pounded like crazy in this unfamiliar atmosphere.
More than when I won.
"Wow, Lucian. I see you in a new light!"
"You're pretty good, huh?"
"Bastard, you're awesome."
"Lucian Vane... I'll remember that name."
As I stepped down from the sparring ground, I thought.
'What kind of Hero does a guy who can only use a sword think he is?'
As seen from its stance, the Vane Severing Sword Style is a sword technique that accounts for close-quarters combat in addition to swordplay.
Even if its mobility might be somewhat limited, it could firmly respond even in unexpected situations.
As I was about to head to the training grounds, receiving everyone's cheers, a voice was heard from behind me.
Thank you, Goddess.